Toulouse gunman was on US no-fly list as terror suspect

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France's intelligence agencies have question to answer over their handling of the Merah caseAFP/Getty

Adam SageParis

Last updated at 4:46AM, March 23 2012

France’s much-vaunted intelligence agencies are facing a barrage of criticism
over their failure to place Mohamed Merah under surveillance after it
emerged that he had been placed on the US no-fly list.

Opposition leaders were joined by a government minister in claiming that Merah
had exploited a flaw in the country’s counter-terrorism procedure after
agents neglected to tap his phone, even though they knew of his trips to
Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Jérôme Guedj, a senior Socialist politician, called for Claude Guéant, the
Interior Minister, to resign.

The criticism threatens the reputation of the French intelligence services,
which have been seen